Evidence on how Havelock North's water became contaminated will be heard at the next hearing for the Government Inquiry into the gastro outbreak.
After an initial public hearing last week, progress is being made on the inquiry into August's widespread gastro outbreak, when E.coli in the Havelock North water supply caused about 5200 people to become ill.
The inquiry, expected to report back by the end of March, will explore the outbreak's cause, the responses to it and how to prevent such instances in future.
Thursday's public hearing was about process, and "getting the show on the road". At the next hearing - scheduled for November 28 - evidence will be submitted from interested parties, on a number of issues set out by the inquiry.
A second minute released by the inquiry this week has laid out procedural matters discussed at the first hearing, including who would be designated as core participants in the inquiry.
It also explained that as all participants agreed at the last hearing, the inquiry will proceed in two stages.
The first will "address matters directly relevant to the campylobacteriosis outbreak", while stage two will address systemic issues and lessons to be learned.
"This will enable stage two to be appropriately focused," the minute stated.
Eight issues have been set out for the first stage. These are to assist the Inquiry's focus, but do not prevent any party citing any other evidence relevant to its terms of reference.
The minute stated two issues - relating to where responsibility lay around the safety of drinking water, and also the outbreak's affect on residents, how it was managed, and responses to it - were seen largely uncontentious and "likely to be agreed by all parties as statement of fact".
"Consequently, statements of evidence are not sought at this stage on those two issues."
In addition to its own investigation, the inquiry will hear evidence at the public hearings on the other six issues.
These related to the cause of the contamination, whether there was a failure to meet requirements, whether responses to the outbreak, and the level of contingency planning for such an event were adequate and appropriate, and what further actions should be taken to ensure a safe supply of drinking water to Havelock North.
Issues for the second stage have not yet been confirmed.
The public hearings will commence on November 28.
If further time is required, the inquiry will reconvene on December 12, with additional dates to be arranged in January if necessary.